technological know–how, improve ICT, create millions of employment opportunities and raise the level of both theoretical and practical technological literacy.
We must reiterate the crucial issues as discussed by the NEC of our union:
1. Non – implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report
Through series of engagements with government on the very poor state of our polytechnics, government set up NEEDS assessment survey which was conducted, completed and a report produced to the effect that the sector needs at least N6.5 Billion to resuscitate it as at 2014. This figure has also been reviewed to over N8 Billion in view of the prevailing economic realities. Unfortunately since 2014, no practical step has been taken to release any dime to enhance quality in our polytechnics. The very essence of spending tax payers money to undertake this very important survey is being diminished by the inactivity of same government. While this is going on, the institutions continue to be enveloped by decay, staff and students continue to suffer while the nation is denied the gains accruable from such a viable sector.
2. Non – passage of the Amendment Bill of the Polytechnics Act
The delay and indifference to the passage of this bill is viewed as a ploy to fester chaos and continued crises in the sector. Recall that this bill passed through public hearing since December 2016. One wonders why an all important bill such as this still remains unattended to even when assurances have been extracted from the Senate Committee on this bill, our regulatory agencies and ministry of education. Passing this bill will go a long way to resolving majority of the contending issues in the sector, reduce conflicts, improve on the efficiency levels of the administrative organs and ultimately bring the sector in tune with global best practices. Same bill died with the 6th and 7th assemblies and the current effort is now being threatened to go same way as it is stuck in the Senate since the public hearing in December, 2016.
3. Sorry State of State – Government Owned Institutions
Polytechnics and monotechnics belonging to state governments have continued to wallow in deplorable conditions with all sorts of encumbrances ranging from non–payment of salaries, through dilapidated structures to withholding of union check-off dues and threats to even lives of our members in those institutions in addition to non–accreditation of courses due to paucity of funds to prosecute this exercise.
Abia, Bayelsa, Benue, Edo, Imo, Kogi, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Plateau are defaulters in the above regards. Our engagements with relevant ministries and
agencies of governments have not yielded the required results. The fate of our students, our members and their families are hanging in the balance as some have died in the process. Urgent solution is therefore imperative to persuade state governments to salvage these inhuman conditions.
4. Shortfalls in Personnel Releases and Withdrawal of Allowances
In December 2015 our members experienced shortfall in their emoluments due to cuts in personnel releases. This phenomenon has persisted till date. As if this was not enough, government added salt to injury by withdrawing allowances which hitherto were part of salaries.
Equally, unpaid arrears of promotions have continued to mount. While verifications of staff have been conducted over and over, only five institutions have received repayment of their 2016 shortfalls. This situation is compounded by the continued penchant of Governing Councils to siphon the meagre internal resources of institutions in order to assuage their unbridled appetite for luxury.
5. Non Release of CONTISS 15 Migration arrears
This issue has lingered since 2011 when the approval to migrate to the CONTISS 15 salary scale was secured from the government effective 2009. Since then, only the upper cader has been fully taken care of. Staffs in the lower cader are being short changed since then as they are yet to gat the full benefit of this policy. In response, government continues to set up committees without terminal dates and any meaningful response to the union’s protests.
6. Infractions in the Appointment of Rectors
Governments have continued to appoint rectors in violation of extant regulations. Such infractions are evident has notably in Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, and Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny where governing councils advertise the vacancy of rectors without recourse to established templates and with the acquisence of representations of government from ministry of education and NBTE. These grievous anomalies are yet to be redressed, even with the assurances from relevant government agencies.
7. Continued Victimization of Union Officers
Our chapter chairmen in Delta State polytechnic, Ogwashi Uku, Osun state polytechnic, Iree and Adamawa state polytechnic, Yola are still sacked in very glaring cases of victimization. Again promises of intervention are yet to yield results.
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